Systems and Methods for Self-Contained Air Interface Partitions

ABSTRACT

Signal processing complexity in fifth generation (5G) networks can be reduced by communicating wireless signals over self-contained partitions of a carrier such that the wireless transmission communicated over each self-contained partition of the carrier includes all physical control channel signaling required to decode data carried in a physical data channel of the partition. The control signaling may include resource assignment within the partition, modulation and coding scheme indication, reference signal configuration and retransmission information. In some embodiments, an anchor partition of a carrier is used to communicate initial access information for self-contained partitions of the carrier. The initial access information may include center-frequencies, bandwidths, and/or air interface configurations of the self-contained partitions. The anchor partition may also carry load indications associated with the self-contained partitions.

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 15/140,044 filed on Apr. 27, 2016 and entitled“Systems and Methods for Self-Contained Air Interface Partitions,” whichclaims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/252,037, filed onNov. 6, 2015 and entitled “Systems and Methods for Self-Contained AirInterface Partitions,” both of which are hereby incorporated byreference herein as if reproduced in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to wireless communications, and, inparticular embodiments, to systems and methods for self-contained airinterface partitions.

BACKGROUND

In conventional wireless networks, resources of a carrier may be dividedinto different partitions, and each partition may be assigned to carrydata for a different mobile device or group of mobile devices. Controlsignaling associated with the data may typically be carried in a commoncontrol channel, such that mobile devices transmit and/or receive datain different partitions of a carrier according to control signaling in acommon control channel of the carrier.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Technical advantages are generally achieved by embodiments of thisdisclosure which describe systems and methods for self-contained airinterface partitions.

In accordance with an embodiment, a method for wireless communication isprovided. In this example, the method includes transmitting a firstwireless transmission over a first partition of a carrier supporting afirst air interface configuration. The first wireless transmission overthe first partition of the carrier includes a first physical datachannel and all physical control channel signaling for decoding datacarried in the first physical data channel at a receiver of the firstwireless transmission. The method further includes transmitting a secondwireless transmission over a second partition of the carrier supportinga second air interface configuration. The second wireless transmissionover the second partition of the carrier includes a second physical datachannel and all physical control channel signaling for decoding datacarried in the second physical data channel at a receiver of the secondwireless transmission. An apparatus for performing this method is alsoprovided.

In accordance with another embodiment, another method for wirelesscommunication is provided. In this example, the method includesreceiving initial access information over an anchor partition of acarrier. The initial access information is for accessing self-containedpartitions of the carrier. The method further includes selecting one ofthe self-contained partitions of the carrier, and accessing the selectedself-contained partition of the carrier in accordance with the initialaccess information received over the anchor partition of the carrier. Anapparatus for performing this method is also provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and theadvantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an embodiment wireless network;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a carrier that includes self-containedpartitions;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a carrier that includes an anchor partition andself-contained partitions;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an embodiment load indicator communicated in ananchor partition;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a carrier that includes physical and logicalself-contained logical partitions;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a logical partition configuration indication;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an embodiment method for communicating wirelesstransmissions over self-contained partitions of a carrier;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an embodiment method for facilitating access toself-contained partitions of a carrier using an anchor partition of thecarrier;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an embodiment method for accessingself-contained partitions of a carrier;

FIG. 10 is a diagram of an embodiment processing system; and

FIG. 11 is a diagram of an embodiment transceiver.

Corresponding numerals and symbols in the different figures generallyrefer to corresponding parts unless otherwise indicated. The figures aredrawn to clearly illustrate the relevant aspects of the embodiments andare not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The making and using of embodiments of this disclosure are discussed indetail below. It should be appreciated, however, that the presentinvention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can beembodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specificembodiments discussed are merely illustrative of specific ways to makeand use the invention, and do not limit the scope of the invention.

As mentioned above, conventional wireless networks may use a commoncontrol channel to carry control signaling for different partitions of acarrier. Accordingly, a mobile device may need to monitor both theresource partition assigned to the mobile device and the common controlchannel. Next generation wireless networks may have much wider carrierbands than conventional wireless networks, and as a result, there may berelatively wide frequency spacings between resource partitions and acommon control channel in a carrier. Monitoring a resource partition anda common control channel that are separated by a wide frequency spacingmay be complex from the perspective of the mobile device, particularlywhen different air interface configurations are used to communicatesignaling over the control channel and resource partition.

Aspects of this disclosure communicate wireless signals over multipleself-contained partitions in a carrier such that each partition of thecarrier includes all physical control channel signaling required todecode data carried in a physical data channel of the partition. Thecontrol signaling may include resource assignment within the partition,modulation and coding scheme indication, reference signal configurationand retransmission information. A downlink transmission over aself-contained carrier partition may also include physical controlchannel signaling for communicating wireless signals in the uplinkdirection, such as over uplink physical data and control channels. Anuplink transmission over the self-contained partition may includevarious control signaling related to the downlink transmission, such aschannel state information (CSI) reports (e.g., modulation coding scheme(MCS) selection, etc.) and Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ)signaling (e.g., ACK, NACK, etc.). In an embodiment, a wirelesstransmission over a partition of a carrier carries HARQ signalingassociated with data transmitted over the partition of the carrier. Inanother embodiment, a HARQ retransmission mode is disabled in apartition, and the partition excludes HARQ signaling. The uplinktransmission may also include an uplink data transmission and uplinkcontrol signaling related to the uplink data transmission. The uplinktransmission may further include scheduling/resource requests for uplinkand/or downlink resources. In some embodiments, physical control channelsignaling in a partition may exclude initial access information, and theinitial access information may be communicated in an Anchor partition.In other embodiments, physical control channel signaling in a partitionincludes initial access information.

In some embodiments, an anchor partition of a carrier is used tocommunicate initial access information for self-contained partitions ofthe carrier. The initial access information may includecenter-frequencies, bandwidths, and/or air interface configurations ofthe self-contained partitions. The anchor partition may also carry loadindications associated with the self-contained partitions. The loadindications may allow mobile devices to identify and/or estimatecongestion and/or access probabilities associated with theself-contained partitions. These and other inventive aspects aredescribed in greater detail below.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a wireless network 100 for communicating data.The wireless network 100 includes a base station 110 having a coveragearea 101, a plurality of mobile devices 120, and a backhaul network 130.As shown, the base station 110 establishes uplink (dashed line) and/ordownlink (dotted line) connections with the mobile devices 120, whichserve to carry data from the mobile devices 120 to the base station 110and vice-versa. Data carried over the uplink/downlink connections mayinclude data communicated between the mobile devices 120, as well asdata communicated to/from a remote-end (not shown) by way of thebackhaul network 130. As used herein, the term “base station” refers toany component (or collection of components) configured to providewireless access to a network, such as an evolved NodeB (eNB), amacro-cell, a femtocell, a Wi-Fi access point (AP), or other wirelesslyenabled devices. Base stations may provide wireless access in accordancewith one or more wireless communication protocols, e.g., long termevolution (LTE), LTE advanced (LTE-A), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA),Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac. As used herein, the term “mobile device” refersto any component (or collection of components) capable of establishing awireless connection with a base station. The terms “mobile device,”“user equipment (UE),” and “mobile station (STA)” are usedinterchangeably throughout this disclosure. In some embodiments, thenetwork 100 may comprise various other wireless devices, such as relays.

Self-contained partitions include all physical control channel signalingfor decoding data in a physical data channel of the self-containedpartition. In some embodiments, self-contained carrier partitions arepositioned in different frequency sub-bands of a carrier. FIG. 2 is adiagram of a carrier 200 that includes a plurality of self-containedpartitions 210, 220, 230, 240. Each of the self-contained partitions210, 220, 230, 240 carries a physical data channel as well as all thephysical control channel signaling required to decode data in thecorresponding physical data channel. In some embodiments, the physicalcontrol channel signaling includes initial access information. Theinitial access information may be included in a broadcast channelcommunicated over the self-contained partition. In other embodiments,the initial access information is a priori information of the mobiledevices, or is derived from some other source, e.g., an anchor partitionthat will be described below. Each of the self-contained partitions 210,220, 230, 240 are communicated over different, non-overlapping,frequency sub-bands of the carrier 200.

The self-contained partitions 210-240 of the carrier 200 may be assigneddifferent air interface configurations. As used herein, the term airinterface configuration collectively refers to the subset of parametersused to communicate a signal over an air interface, which may include asubset of physical layer parameters (e.g., sub-carrier spacing,transmission time interval (TTI), transport block duration, subframelength, cyclic prefix (CP) length) used to communicate the signal overthe air interface, a waveform used to communicate the signal over theair interface, a transmission mode used to transmit the signal over theair interface, an access scheme used to access resources over which thesignal is transmitted, a re-transmission scheme used to verify that thesignal communicated over the air interface was successfully received, ora combination thereof. As used herein, the term “transport block” refersto entity occupying a duration in time. Given that context, “transportblock duration” refers to the duration in time occupied by the transportblock.

Because the self-contained partitions 210-240 carry all physical controlchannel signaling that is needed to decode data in the physical datachannel, it may be unnecessary for mobile devices receiving data overdifferent ones of the self-contained partitions 210-240 to monitor acommon control channel. This may be advantageous in networks that usedifferent air interface configurations for the different self-containedpartitions 210-240, because it allows each mobile device to maintain asingle air interface configuration for its assigned self-containedpartition 210-240 without having to maintain a second air interfaceconfiguration for the common control channel. In some embodiments,signals in different self-contained partitions may be communicated usingthe same air interface configuration.

In some embodiments, an anchor partition may be used to provide initialaccess information to mobile devices entering a network or coveragearea. FIG. 3 is a diagram of a carrier 300 that includes an anchorpartition 350 and a plurality of self-contained partitions 310, 320,330. In some embodiments, parameters of the anchor partition 350 are apriori information to mobile devices accessing the network, which allowsthe mobile devices to access the anchor partition 350 upon entering anetwork or coverage area associated with the carrier 300. In otherembodiments, parameters of the anchor partition 350 are included in abroadcast channel (BCH) indicator 315 communicated in the anchorpartition 350.

Initial access information of the self-contained partitions 310, 320,330 may be communicated in the anchor partition 350. Initial accessinformation communicated in the anchor partition 350 may identify thecenter frequencies and/or bandwidths of the self-contained partitions310, 320, 330, as well as air interface configuration parameters of theself-contained partitions 310, 320, 330. In some embodiments, initialaccess information communicated in the anchor partition 350 may identifya subset of the air interface configuration parameters of one or more ofthe self-contained partitions 310, 320, 330. In such embodiments, airinterface configuration parameters of the self-contained partitions 310,320, 330 that are not communicated over the anchor partition 350 may bedetermined by the mobile devices upon accessing the respectiveself-contained partitions 310, 320, 330, e.g., in a broadcast channel ofthe self-contained partitions 310, 320, 330.

The anchor partition 350 may also support direct initial access fortime-sensitive traffic, and may therefore itself be a self-containedpartition in that data can be communicated over a physical data channelin the anchor partition 350 based entirely on physical control channelsignaling communicated over the anchor partition 350. In an embodiment,resources of a physical data channel communicated over the anchorpartition 350 are accessed in a contention-based manner. In anotherembodiment, resources of a physical data channel communicated over theanchor partition 350 are accessed in a scheduling-based manner. In yetanother embodiment, the anchor partition includes multiple physical datachannels, at least one of which includes resources accessed in acontention based manner, and at least another of which includesresources accessed in a scheduling-based manner.

In some embodiments, the anchor partition 350 carries load indicators oraccess probability indicators associated with the self-containedpartitions 310, 320, 330. The load indicators may allow the mobiledevices to predict, or otherwise determine, the availability ofresources in the self-contained partitions 310, 320, 330. For example,the load indicators may indicate, or otherwise allow the mobile devicesto predict, a level of congestion in the self-contained partitions 310,320, 330. In one embodiment, resources in one or more of theself-contained partitions 310, 320, 330 are accessed in acontention-based manner, and the load indicators specify a parameter(e.g., back-off value, collision probability) that allows a mobiledevice to estimate an access probability associated with thecorresponding partition. In another embodiment, resources in one or moreof the self-contained partitions 310, 320, 330 are accessed in ascheduling-based manner, and the load indicators specify an amount, orpercentage, of resources that are unoccupied or otherwise available forallocation to the mobile device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an embodiment load indicator 400 communicated inan anchor partition of a carrier. As shown, the load indicator 400includes a plurality of load indictors 410, 420, 430 for each of theself-contained partitions of the carrier. Each load indicator indicatesa traffic load associated with a partition. In one embodiment, each loadindicator is two bits, and indicates one of four load situations. Forexample, a two-bit load indicator may indicate that current load is lessthan thirty percent of maximum capacity, between thirty and fifty-fivepercent of maximum capacity, between fifty-five and eighty percent ofmaximum capacity, or over eighty percent of maximum capacity. Otherthresholds/ranges are also possible. In another embodiment, accessprobability information is sent to the wireless devices to inform themof a projected access probability in one or more partitions. The loadindicators and/or access probability information may be unicast to oneor more wireless devices. Alternatively, the load indicators and/oraccess probability information may be multicast or broadcast to multiplewireless devices.

In some embodiments, a mobile device may select a self-containedpartition based on the following inequality: Σ_(j=1)^(k−1)A_(j)≤r<Σ_(j=1) ^(k)A_(j), where j is an index associated with agiven self-contained partition, k is the total number of self-containedpartitions, r is a random variable generated in the mobile device, andA_(j) is an access probability parameter for a jth self-containedpartition. In an embodiment, the random variable r is used to helpdecide which partition to use. The access probability parameter is afunction of the load indicator or the access probability indicator. Forexample, the load indicator of 00, 01, 10, 11 may be mapped to accessprobability of 1.0, 0.7, 0.4, 0.1. For another example, an accessprobability indicator Bj may be mapped to access probability of 2^(Bj).The access probabilities indicated may further be normalized. Forexample, when three access probabilities of 1, 2 and 2 are indicated forthree partitions, they may be normalized to 1/(1+2+2)=0.2, 2/(1+2+2)=0.4and 2/(1+2+2)=0.4, respectively. In some embodiments, the mobile devicecalculates r based on the following equation: r=Σ_(j=1) ^(k)A_(j)×rand(), where rand( )is a function to generate a random variable uniformlydistributed on the interval [0.0, 1.0].

One or more self-contained carrier partitions may be logical partitionsthat map to physical resources of the carrier based on different hoppingperiods and/or hopping patterns. FIG. 5 is a diagram of a carrier 500includes physical self-contained partitions 510, 520 and logicalself-contained partitions 530-580. The physical self-containedpartitions 510, 520 map directly to frequency sub-bands of the carrier500, and the logical self-contained partitions 530-580 are indirectlymapped to sets of physical resources of the carrier 500 based on hoppingperiods and/or hopping patterns. The logical self-contained partitions530-580 may be associated with different bandwidths, hopping periods,and/or hopping patterns. The sets of physical resources mapped to eachof the self-contained partitions 530-580 may be orthogonal to oneanother in the time-frequency domain. FIG. 6 is a diagram of a logicalpartition configuration indication that may be broadcast in a partition.In this example, multiple physical channels are multiplexed into asingle partition.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an embodiment method 700 for communicatingwireless transmissions over self-contained partitions of a carrier, asmay be performed by a base station. At step 710, the base stationcommunicates a wireless transmission over a first self-containedpartition of the carrier in accordance with a first air interfaceconfiguration. The wireless transmission communicated over the firstself-contained partition includes a physical data channel and all thephysical control channel signaling used to decode data in the physicaldata channel communicated over the first self-contained partition.

At step 720, the base station communicates a wireless transmission overa second self-contained partition of the carrier in accordance with asecond air interface configuration. The wireless transmissioncommunicated over the first self-contained partition includes a physicaldata channel and all the physical control channels used to decode datain the physical data channel communicated over the second self-containedpartition.

In one embodiment, the first self-contained partition and the secondself-contained partition are physical partitions mapped to differentfrequency sub-bands of the carrier. In another embodiment, the firstself-contained partition and the second self-contained partition arelogical partitions mapped to sets of resources in the carrier that areorthogonal in the time-frequency domain. In yet another embodiment, thefirst self-contained partition is a physical partition, and the secondself-contained partition is a logical partition.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an embodiment method 800 for facilitatingaccess to self-contained partitions of a carrier using an anchorpartition of the carrier, as may be performed by a base station. At step810, the base station communicates initial access information for theself-contained partitions of the carrier over the anchor partition. Theinitial access information may identify center frequencies, bandwidths,and/or air interface configurations of the self-contained partitions. Insome embodiments, the base station also communicates load indicationsfor the self-contained partitions over the anchor partition. At step820, the base station communicates wireless signals over theself-contained partitions of the carrier in accordance with the initialaccess information sent over the anchor partition of the carrier. Thewireless transmissions communicated over each of the self-containedpartitions includes a physical data channel and all the physical controlchannel signaling used to decode data in the physical data channelcommunicated over the corresponding self-contained partition.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an embodiment method 900 for accessingself-contained partitions of a carrier, as may be performed by a mobiledevice. At step 910, the mobile device receives initial accessinformation for the self-contained partitions of the carrier over ananchor partition of the carrier. At step 920, the mobile device selectsone of the self-contained partitions of the carrier. In someembodiments, the mobile device selects one of the self-containedpartitions based on initial access information and/or load indicatorsreceived over the anchor partition. At step 930, the mobile devicecommunicates wireless signals over the selected self- containedpartition in accordance with the initial access information receivedover the anchor partition of the carrier.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an embodiment processing system 1000 forperforming methods described herein, which may be installed in a hostdevice. As shown, the processing system 1000 includes a processor 1004,a memory 1006, and interfaces 1010-1014, which may (or may not) bearranged as shown in FIG. 10. The processor 1004 may be any component orcollection of components adapted to perform computations and/or otherprocessing related tasks, and the memory 1006 may be any component orcollection of components adapted to store programming and/orinstructions for execution by the processor 1004. In an embodiment, thememory 1006 includes a non-transitory computer readable medium. Theinterfaces 1010, 1012, 1014 may be any component or collection ofcomponents that allow the processing system 1000 to communicate withother devices/components and/or a user. For example, one or more of theinterfaces 1010, 1012, 1014 may be adapted to communicate data, control,or management messages from the processor 1004 to applications installedon the host device and/or a remote device. As another example, one ormore of the interfaces 1010, 1012, 1014 may be adapted to allow a useror user device (e.g., personal computer (PC), etc.) tointeract/communicate with the processing system 1000. The processingsystem 1000 may include additional components not depicted in FIG. 10,such as long term storage (e.g., non-volatile memory, etc.).

In some embodiments, the processing system 1000 is included in a networkdevice that is accessing, or part otherwise of, a telecommunicationsnetwork. In one example, the processing system 1000 is in a network-sidedevice in a wireless or wireline telecommunications network, such as abase station, a relay station, a scheduler, a controller, a gateway, arouter, an applications server, or any other device in thetelecommunications network. In other embodiments, the processing system1000 is in a user-side device accessing a wireless or wirelinetelecommunications network, such as a mobile station, a user equipment(UE), a personal computer (PC), a tablet, a wearable communicationsdevice (e.g., a smartwatch, etc.), or any other device adapted to accessa telecommunications network.

In some embodiments, one or more of the interfaces 1010, 1012, 1014connects the processing system 1000 to a transceiver adapted to transmitand receive signaling over the telecommunications network. FIG. 11 is ablock diagram of a transceiver 1100 adapted to transmit and receivesignaling over a telecommunications network. The transceiver 1100 may beinstalled in a host device. As shown, the transceiver 1100 comprises anetwork-side interface 1102, a coupler 1104, a transmitter 1106, areceiver 1108, a signal processor 1110, and a device-side interface1112. The network-side interface 1102 may include any component orcollection of components adapted to transmit or receive signaling over awireless or wireline telecommunications network. The coupler 1104 mayinclude any component or collection of components adapted to facilitatebi-directional communication over the network-side interface 1102. Thetransmitter 1106 may include any component or collection of components(e.g., up-converter, power amplifier, etc.) adapted to convert abaseband signal into a modulated carrier signal suitable fortransmission over the network-side interface 1102. The receiver 1108 mayinclude any component or collection of components (e.g., down-converter,low noise amplifier, etc.) adapted to convert a carrier signal receivedover the network-side interface 1102 into a baseband signal. The signalprocessor 1110 may include any component or collection of componentsadapted to convert a baseband signal into a data signal suitable forcommunication over the device-side interface(s) 1112, or vice-versa. Thedevice-side interface(s) 1112 may include any component or collection ofcomponents adapted to communicate data-signals between the signalprocessor 1110 and components within the host device (e.g., theprocessing system 1000, local area network (LAN) ports, etc.).

The transceiver 1100 may transmit and receive signaling over any type ofcommunications medium. In some embodiments, the transceiver 1100transmits and receives signaling over a wireless medium. For example,the transceiver 1100 may be a wireless transceiver adapted tocommunicate in accordance with a wireless telecommunications protocol,such as a cellular protocol (e.g., long-term evolution (LTE), etc.), awireless local area network (WLAN) protocol (e.g., Wi-Fi, etc.), or anyother type of wireless protocol (e.g., Bluetooth, near fieldcommunication (NFC), etc.). In such embodiments, the network-sideinterface 1102 comprises one or more antenna/radiating elements. Forexample, the network-side interface 1102 may include a single antenna,multiple separate antennas, or a multi-antenna array configured formulti-layer communication, e.g., single input multiple output (SIMO),multiple input single output (MISO), multiple input multiple output(MIMO), etc. In other embodiments, the transceiver 1100 transmits andreceives signaling over a wireline medium, e.g., twisted-pair cable,coaxial cable, optical fiber, etc. Specific processing systems and/ortransceivers may utilize all of the components shown, or only a subsetof the components, and levels of integration may vary from device todevice.

It should be appreciated that one or more steps of the embodimentmethods provided herein may be performed by corresponding units ormodules. For example, a signal may be transmitted by a transmitting unitor a transmitting module. A signal may be received by a receiving unitor a receiving module. A signal may be processed by a processing unit ora processing module. Other steps may be performed by a sendingunit/module, a selecting unit/module, an assigning unit/module, anincrementing unit/module, a decrementing unit/module, and/or anaccessing unit/module. The respective units/modules may be hardware,software, or a combination thereof. For instance, one or more of theunits/modules may be an integrated circuit, such as field programmablegate arrays (FPGAs) or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

Embodiments of this disclosure provide a method for wirelesscommunication that includes transmitting a first wireless transmissionover a first partition of a carrier supporting a first air interfaceconfiguration and transmitting a second wireless transmission over asecond partition of the carrier supporting a second air interfaceconfiguration. The first wireless transmission includes a first physicaldata channel and all physical control channel signaling for decodingdata carried in the first physical data channel at a receiver of thefirst wireless transmission. The second wireless transmission includes asecond physical data channel and all physical control channel signalingfor decoding data carried in the second physical data channel at areceiver of the second wireless transmission. In one example, the firstwireless transmission further carries control signaling for establishinginitial access to the first partition of the carrier, and the secondwireless transmission further carries control signaling for establishinginitial access to the second partition of the carrier. In the sameexample or another example, the first partition of the carrier does notshare a common control channel with the second partition of the carrier.In any one of the preceding examples, or in another example, the firstpartition and second partition are established over differentsub-carrier frequencies of the carrier. In any one of the precedingexamples, or in another example, the first partition and the secondpartition are established over different logical sub-bands, which aremapped to different resource blocks on the carrier. In such an example,the different logical sub-bands may have different hopping periods thanone another and/or different frequency hopping patterns than oneanother.

In any one of the preceding examples, or in another example, the methodfurther comprises transmitting air interface configuration informationover a third partition of the carrier, where the air interfaceconfiguration information specifies parameters of a first air interfaceconfiguration used to communicate the first wireless transmission overthe first partition and parameters of a second air interfaceconfiguration used to communicate the second wireless transmission overthe second partition.

In such an example, the air interface configuration information mayspecify different sub-carrier spacings, symbol durations, cyclic prefix(CP) lengths, transport block durations, subframe length or bandwidthsfor the first air interface configuration and the second air interfaceconfiguration. Alternatively, in such an example, the air interfaceconfiguration information may specify different center frequencies forthe first partition and the second partition on the carrier, differentwaveforms for the first partition and the second partition on thecarrier, and/or different access schemes for the first partition and thesecond partition on the carrier. In any one of the preceding examples,or in another example, the method further includes transmitting loadindicators over a third partition of the carrier, where the loadindicators indicate an amount of traffic or congestion on the firstpartition and second partition of the carrier. The load indicators maybe used by user equipments (UEs) to determine access probabilities forthe first partition and the second partition of the carrier. In any oneof the preceding examples, or in an another example, the same airinterface configuration is used to communicate the first wirelesstransmission over the first partition and the second wirelesstransmission over the second partition. In any one of the precedingexamples, or in an another example, the first wireless transmissionfurther carries Hybrid Automatic Retransmission reQuest (HARQ) signalingassociated with data transmitted over the first partition of thecarrier, and the second wireless transmission further carries HARQsignaling associated with data transmitted over the second partition ofthe carrier. An apparatus, e.g., base station, for performing thismethod is also provided.

Embodiments of this disclosure further provide a method for wirelesscommunication that includes receiving initial access information foraccessing self-contained partitions of a carrier over an anchorpartition of the carrier, selecting, by the UE, one of theself-contained partitions of the carrier, and accessing, by the UE, theselected self-contained partition of the carrier in accordance with theinitial access information received over the anchor partition of thecarrier. In one example selecting one of the self-contained partitionsof the carrier comprises selecting one of the self-contained partitionsof the carrier in accordance with load indicators communicated over theanchor partition. An apparatus, e.g., user equipment (UE), forperforming this method is also provided.

Embodiments provide a method for wireless communication that includesreceiving initial access information over an anchor partition of acarrier that indicates self-contained partitions of the carrier andcommunicating a first wireless transmission over a first self-containedpartition of self-contained partitions supporting a first air interfaceconfiguration. The first wireless transmission includes a first physicaldata channel and physical control channel signaling for decoding datacarried in the first physical data channel. The anchor partition and thefirst self-contained partition occupy different bandwidth partition inthe carrier. In one example, a second self-contained partition of thecarrier supports a second air interface configuration, and the first airinterface configuration has a different numerology than the second airinterface configuration. In one example, the method further includesobtaining parameters of the anchor partition though a priori informationor a broadcast channel indicator. In the same example or in anotherexample, the initial access information communicated in the anchorpartition is used for identifying at least one of the following: thecenter frequencies of each self-contained partitions; bandwidths of eachself-contained partitions; air interface configuration parameters ofeach self-contained partitions; and a subset of the air interfaceconfiguration parameters of one or more of the self-containedpartitions. In any one of the preceding examples, the initial accessinformation comprises load indicator indicators communicated over theanchor partition. An apparatus for performing this method is alsoprovided.

Embodiments of this disclosure provide a method for wirelesscommunication that includes sending initial access information over ananchor partition of a carrier that indicates self-contained partitionsof the carrier, and communicating a first wireless transmission over afirst self-contained partition of self-contained partitions supporting afirst air interface configuration. The first wireless transmissionincludes a first physical data channel and physical control channelsignaling for decoding data carried in the first physical data channel.The anchor partition and the first self-contained partition occupydifferent bandwidth partition in the carrier. In one example, a secondself-contained partition of the carrier supports a second air interfaceconfiguration, and the first air interface configuration has a differentnumerology than the second air interface configuration. In the sameexample, or in another example, the method further includes sendingparameters of the anchor partition though a priori information or abroadcast channel indicator. In any one of the preceding examples, or inanother example, the initial access information communicated in theanchor partition is used for identifying at least one of the following:the center frequencies of each self-contained partitions; bandwidths ofeach self-contained partitions; air interface configuration parametersof each self-contained partitions; and a subset of the air interfaceconfiguration parameters of one or more of the self-containedpartitions. In any one of the preceding examples, or in another example,the initial access information comprises load indicator indicatorscommunicated over the anchor partition. An apparatus for performing thismethod is also provided.

Although this invention has been described with reference toillustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to beconstrued in a limiting sense. Various modifications and combinations ofthe illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of theinvention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon referenceto the description. It is therefore intended that the appended claimsencompass any such modifications or embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for wireless communication, the methodcomprising: receiving, by a user equipment (UE), initial accessinformation over an anchor partition of a carrier, the initial accessinformation indicating self-contained partitions of the carrier; andcommunicating, by the UE, a first wireless transmission over a firstself-contained partition of self-contained partitions supporting a firstair interface configuration, the first wireless transmission over thefirst self-contained partition of the carrier including a first physicaldata channel and physical control channel signaling for decoding datacarried in the first physical data channel, wherein the anchor partitionand the first self-contained partition occupy different bandwidthpartition in the carrier.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein a secondself-contained partition of the carrier supports a second air interfaceconfiguration, and the first air interface configuration has a differentnumerology than the second air interface configuration.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: obtaining, by the UE, parameters of theanchor partition though a priori information or a broadcast channelindicator.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial accessinformation communicated in the anchor partition is used for identifyingat least one of the following: the center frequencies of eachself-contained partitions; bandwidths of each self-contained partitions;air interface configuration parameters of each self-containedpartitions; and a subset of the air interface configuration parametersof one or more of the self-contained partitions.
 5. The method of claim1, wherein the initial access information comprises load indicatorindicators communicated over the anchor partition.
 6. A user equipmentcomprising: a processor; and a non-transitory computer readable storagemedium storing programming for execution by the processor, theprogramming including instructions to: receive initial accessinformation over an anchor partition of a carrier, the initial accessinformation indicating self-contained partitions of the carrier; andcommunicate a first wireless transmission over a first self-containedpartition of self-contained partitions supporting a first air interfaceconfiguration, the first wireless transmission over the firstself-contained partition of the carrier including a first physical datachannel and physical control channel signaling for decoding data carriedin the first physical data channel, wherein the anchor partition and thefirst self-contained partition occupy different bandwidth partition inthe carrier.
 7. The user equipment of claim 6, wherein a secondself-contained partition of the carrier supports a second air interfaceconfiguration, and the first air interface configuration has a differentnumerology from the second air interface configuration.
 8. The userequipment of claim 6, further comprising instructions to: obtainparameters of the anchor partition though a priori information or abroadcast channel indicator.
 9. The user equipment of claim 6, whereinthe initial access information communicated in the anchor partition isused for identifying at least one of the following: the centerfrequencies of each self-contained partitions; bandwidths of eachself-contained partitions; air interface configuration parameters ofeach self-contained partitions; and a subset of the air interfaceconfiguration parameters of one or more of the self-containedpartitions.
 10. The user equipment of claim 6, wherein the initialaccess information comprises load indicator indicators communicated overthe anchor partition. ii. A method for wireless communication, themethod comprising: sending, by a base station, initial accessinformation over an anchor partition of a carrier, the initial accessinformation indicating self-contained partitions of the carrier; andcommunicating, by the base station, a first wireless transmission over afirst self-contained partition of self-contained partitions supporting afirst air interface configuration, the first wireless transmission overthe first self-contained partition of the carrier including a firstphysical data channel and physical control channel signaling fordecoding data carried in the first physical data channel, wherein theanchor partition and the first self-contained partition occupy differentbandwidth partition in the carrier.
 12. The method of claim 11, whereina second self-contained partition of the carrier supports a second airinterface configuration, and the first air interface configuration has adifferent numerology than the second air interface configuration. 13.The method of claim ii, further comprising: sending, by the basestation, parameters of the anchor partition though a priori informationor a broadcast channel indicator.
 14. The method of claim ii, whereinthe initial access information communicated in the anchor partition usedfor identifying at least one of the following: the center frequencies ofeach self-contained partitions; bandwidths of each self-containedpartitions; air interface configuration parameters of eachself-contained partitions; and a subset of the air interfaceconfiguration parameters of one or more of the self-containedpartitions.
 15. The method of claim ii, wherein the initial accessinformation comprises load indicator indicators communicated over theanchor partition.
 16. A base station comprising: a processor; and anon-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming forexecution by the processor, the programming including instructions to:send initial access information over an anchor partition of a carrier,the initial access information indicating self-contained partitions ofthe carrier; and communicate a first wireless transmission over a firstself-contained partition of self-contained partitions supporting a firstair interface configuration, the first wireless transmission over thefirst self-contained partition of the carrier including a first physicaldata channel and physical control channel signaling for decoding datacarried in the first physical data channel, wherein the anchor partitionand the first self-contained partition occupy different bandwidthpartition in the carrier.
 17. The base station of claim 16, wherein asecond self-contained partition of the carrier supports a second airinterface configuration, and the first air interface configuration has adifferent numerology from the second air interface configuration. 18.The base station of claim 16, further comprising instructions to: sendparameters of the anchor partition though a priori information or abroadcast channel indicator.
 19. The base station of claim 16, whereinthe initial access information communicated in the anchor partition usedfor identifying at least one of the following: the center frequencies ofeach self-contained partitions; bandwidths of each self-containedpartitions; air interface configuration parameters of eachself-contained partitions; and a subset of the air interfaceconfiguration parameters of one or more of the self-containedpartitions.
 20. The base station of claim 16, wherein the initial accessinformation comprises load indicator indicators communicated over theanchor partition.